Strange Bedfellows
Chapter 21: The Shrine in the Mists
The sounds of battle had quieted somewhat. Kanna scryed the field with her mirror. The original wave of demons had been recalled – the real battle would soon begin. But when Kanna tried to bring forth the shrine, the image was oddly distorted.
Naraku frowned. "Odd…" he mused.
"There is a strange energy in this land," Kanna intoned in her small child-like voice. "It interferes with my mirror.
Naraku arched an eyebrow. "Then perhaps we are nearer to our goal than I thought. Kagura," he called the image of the sorceress to the mirror. She looked back at him – seeing a suspended image of him from her vantage point high above the battlefield. "You must serve as my additional eyes and ears," he instructed her. "The Shrine is interfering. But never fear, Kagura – I can watch you…." and as if to verify his point a poisonous insect buzzed loudly in her ear.
"Great," she thought to herself. The image of Naraku faded, giving way to the outline of the temple in the early morning mists. Kagura was struck with the serenity and beauty of the structure. There was something oddly familiar about the place…. why?
Naraku watched as Kagura faded into a sudden mist. "Childs play," he scoffed as a fog rolled into the valley with an unnatural quickness. "Kagura's warriors will march on unaffected," he commented with amusement.
Kagura meanwhile sped on ahead of her soldiers, coming to the top of the shrine. She and Kohaku landed on the top step, and looked about. There was no one… just the thickening mist collecting around their ankles. Kagura blew aside the cover with a flick of her hand. The shrine door was open, and a figure was approaching.
"So, the infamous Kikyo is here," Kagura said smoothly as the priestess emerged from the mist, bow in hand. "You picked an awful time to go visiting."
A harsh blast erupted from the shrine and blew sharply over Kagura and Kohaku. The few demons that had accompanied them disintegrated, leaving the small company alone.
Kagura cocked an eyebrow.
"The fewer witnesses the better," the voice came from behind Kikyo. An older priestess came forward to stand alongside Kikyo. Kagura flicked out her fan, preparing to attack, only to find it had left her hand.
"Come inside," Haru instructed, the fan dangling from her fingers.
"Wha…?" Kagura stared in disbelief, and then glanced at Kohaku.
"Now," Kikyo notched her bow.
Kagura shrugged. "Creepy bitch," she muttered.
Naraku peered into Kanna's mirror with dissatisfaction.
"It would seem the poisonous insects have been destroyed," he said in his disdainful tone.
"The fighting had stopped at the shrine," Kanna spoke quietly. "It would seem that it has been overtaken."
Kagura appeared on the main stairs. "Naraku, I have the priestess. Kohaku is wounded – I am leaving him here to guard the shrine."
"Excellent work, Kagura – I was beginning to worry." The mirror clouded over and she disappeared.
"It's the mists," Kanna said simply. "They make it hard to see."
Naraku waved a hand absently. "A minor inconvenience. Let us begin the second phase of the invasion."
Kagura stood on the topmost stair of the shrine, starring into the valley.
Haru watched Kagura carefully. "What do you plan to do," she asked.
Kagura narrowed her eyes. "Let's get something straight. I don't care about your people, your birds, or your wolves. I only want my freedom, and the only way to do that is to kill Naraku." The women stared at each other for a moment longer.
Haru handed back Kagura's fan wordlessly. Kagura felt a strange power in this land, and now she knew why.
"Take the boy deep within the shrine. Naraku will have no reason to return here."
Haru nodded. She and the boy watched the feather disappear into the darkening skies before following Kagura's orders.
Kikyo watched the shrine shrink into oblivion. She was reminded of her days guarding the Shikon No Tama… particularly her last days. But this time was different, she assured herself. This time she knew who and what her enemy was. For a fleeting moment she thought of Inuyasha, and wondered after his safety. The mists began to collect bellow, spilling over into the valley. Now was not the time for reminiscences. Now was the time for action.
"Remember," Kagura glanced at her disdainfully – perhaps a trait learned from Naraku. "If you betray me, Naraku wins. Everything."
Kikyo returned the gaze apathetically. "I suggest you take your own advice," she said simply.
Kagura turned back to face the valley. The mists were rolling thickly into the valley, and her army marched steadily underneath of her. A poison insect appeared next to her. "Tell Naraku I have Kikyo, and the Shrine has been secured."
The insect seemed to look between Kagura and the prone form of Kikyo lying on the feather. As it disappeared, Kagura smirked. A moment later, a full smile spread on her face."
"He bought it," she turned to Kikyo.
"How do you know?"
"Look."
Kikyo looked over the rim of the feather to the valley floor. There, in the middle of the clearing a dark miasma began to swirl. Kagura flicked her fan, and for a moment, the mists that were filling the valley rushed by, giving them – and the defenders of Rinji's fortress – a clear view of Naraku's castle.
Kagura and the priestess shared a grim look. The battle had begun in earnest.